February 28, 2015

I joined in this fabulous blog party a couple years ago and had so much fun! (And incidentally, it's where I "met" Hamlette, who is simply the coolest person ever! :) I was unable to participate last year, but this year is a different story. So here I am! Ready to make the rounds and see what everyone else has to share. {Although, nothing like getting involved on the very last day of the party! :/ I blame the snow.}

So! On to the questions, shall we? {There are several of them, and you know how I tend to get wordy, so beware the lengthiness of this post! Ye have been warned. Also! I did refer back to some of my answers from last time, so....}

I'm Kara. I'm a reader. (Obviously.) I moved back to my home state within the last year, after living 3000 miles away. And let me just say that the last year has been full of change! So it's made for a very interesting life. I'm happy to be back though, and closer to my mother who's health isn't that great. And I'm slowly finding my new normal. Which is good. :)

2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?

Someone who has enough quirks to make them feel real, who has a heart full of wonder and joy at the beauty of the world and the people in it, who goes through adversity and comes out stronger on the other side, and who has a story to tell that doesn't ever grow old. {Yes, same answer as before, but I think it bears repeating because it's true!}

3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.

Persuasion by Jane AustenDaddy Long Legs by Jean WebsterNorth and South by Elizabeth GaskellThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienAnne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

5. Out of those five books who is your favorite major character and why?

I could mention Anne Elliot again, but I'll go with someone different just so you won't get bored with my answers. :) So, John Thornton from North and South it is! I know I gushed about him all during our January read-along, but seriously. This guy is amazing! I just love how steadfast he is. How much he loves Margaret and chooses to love her no matter who or what else may be against it. Margaret's rejection, his mother's scorn of Margaret, nothing will change his mind. He accepts how his heart has changed him and determines to love her always. The man is a swoonworthy hero if ever I saw one! I also love how much time we spend in his head, so that we truly come to know and understand his motivations and his heart. He's awesome! :)

{I know. He's a hero, not a heroine. But I just love him so much!}

6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?

I love Nicholas Higgins from North and South! He's so gruff and set in his ways, but he comes to know Margaret Hale and her family, as well as John Thornton, and he allows these people to help change him. Or at least to change his opinion and how he feels about life as a cotton mill worker. He and Thornton's slow building friendship is one of my very favorite aspects of the story. He's simply a good man.

I love that he takes Boucher's children in. And he's got a great head on his shoulders! I think that's what Mr. Thornton didn't realize about him at first. Nicholas has a very good sense of right and wrong. He also understands people really well. For all his rough talk, he sees what Margaret's heart is when she approaches he and Bessy about bringing them flowers when they first meet. And what he wanted to happen with the union was actually pretty smart. He was seeking ways to get masters and millworkers to work with one another. And he's honest and upright in all he does. You always know where you stand with him. Sometimes a little too well! :D But I think that's what Mr. Thornton finally saw and came to appreciate. {This passage is from my answer during the read-along.}

{Again with a hero. Sorry! Guess I've got North and South still on my brain.}

7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?

England, and I'd love to visit all of the significant Jane Austen spots.

8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?

Regency England

9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation, tap dancing… what is your act comprised of?

Preferably helping behind the scenes in some way. Not a spotlight sort of gal!

10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?

Anne Shirley. Not sure I could rock the red hair, but I'd love to attempt to use all the big words she loves! :)

I don't know about ultimate, but Captain Wentworth is definitely a favorite!

14. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...

Ah.....?????

15. Describe your ideal dwelling place.

My only requirement is to have space for lots and lots of books. :)

16. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence.

Comfortable

17. Three favorite Non-fiction books?

Love at the Speed of Email by Lisa McKayMere Christianity by C.S. LewisFront of the Class by Brad Cohen

18. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?

With a good book, of course! :)

19. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.

Oh goodness, I have no idea. I don't wear hats. Although I admit that I admire them on others. The biggest requirement, I suppose, is that it be comfortable. I am all about wearing comfy things, people! :)

20. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.

Moving! Trust me when I say that change is never easy and after living away from home for 12 years, moving back again has been a major change.

21. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

"There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there..." Hosea 2:15 amp

February 24, 2015

That's an old picture, by the way. It's so snowy and cold around here, I wanted to remind myself of happier climes. Like California where the almond blossoms are in full bloom and glorious!! *sniff sniff* I miss those almond blossoms. :(

Okay! Just a little update for you lovely people. I know your feeds/inboxes have gotten several posts from me this week and I do apologize. All the crazy snow we had last week kept me homebound a lot. Which meant that I had lots of time for reading. I read six books last week, y'all. SIX!!! I was on a role, wouldn't you say? After having been in a reading slump for what felt like years (but which in case of fact, was really only a few months), it was so much awesomeness to fall back into reading again! And that also means I finally got to a few books I've had for review for....well, I refuse to admit how long they've been at my house. So that means review time! But the major ones are all done now, so I'll probably go back to my sluggish posting again. ;)

I trust all of you are doing well and if you're homebound by snow/ice/cold/whatever winter weather you have, I hope you've had some delightful reading time! Meanwhile, I'm off to see how much more I can whittle down my TBR. (Which won't be much because you know that for the six that got taken off of it, probably twenty more got added. ;)

Well, I definitely think I just found another regency England writer who I will enjoy! Because I thoroughly had fun with this book. :) Kind of funny to start with book two of a series than book one, I do realize. But while there may have been a few things that slipped by because I didn't understand the reference, for the most part this story reads very well as a stand-alone.

I admit that Kate wasn't very likeable at first. A little too self-focused and snobbish for my taste. But it wasn't long until slowly she warmed up and started showing her heart. She just couldn't keep it hidden, to my delight! Watching as she learns a deeper understanding of life and how it's so much more than balls and seeking a rich husband is wonderful. The plight of her maid's sister, as well as a couple handsome gentlemen, one of whom's focus is on helping the poor, stimulates her improvement. She grows so much during this story!

I would be remiss not to mention Jon as well. His struggle to figure out exactly where God is leading him is admirable. He's just such a gentleman! I do like my swoonworthy heroes and Jon's pretty great. He and Kate have lovely chemistry, which most certainly helps! Good guy heroes are kind of my favorite. While I really enjoy a "bad guy turns good" story, don't get me wrong, there's just something about a guy who's gentlemanly and kind and just all around pretty awesome. Don't you think?

With mysteries to untangle, balls to attend, birth's to assist, and all sorts of shenanigans, this is a delightful story! And now I'm off to find book one and dive in. :)

** I received a complimentary copy from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.

Kate glanced his way again. "Why did you leave the garden party early?"A ripple of surprise traveled through Jon. He didn't think she would notice his departure. "I wanted to join some friends who were volunteering at a clinic in the East End.""Isn't that quite a dangerous place?""I suppose it can be if you don't know how to take care of yourself."She lifted one eyebrow. "But you do?"A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he nodded. "I like to think so."

The synopsis of this one just intrigued me, so I was thrilled to get a copy for review. And it was a really nice, thought-provoking story. It's quirky! Things didn't always happen like I anticipated. But that's the beauty to be found in this book. It's the quiet moments, and the characters, that get their chance to shine. I do love quirky and different characters, and this story has several of those. Which just made me happy because real life is full of people who don't fit in neat little boxes.

That's what I think resonated with me the most. How real Fia felt. The disconnect and the disarray of her life, and the vague ideas of where she wanted to go but the uncertainty of how to get there. I had this idea in my teens that by the time I hit "real adulthood" (whenever that actually is) I'd have life figured out. Ha! ;) And that's what Fia is dealing with. She isn't where she thought she'd be by the time she reached her thirties. And her choices have brought her to a place where she has to deal with them because they're affecting every other part of her life. She can't just ignore them and go on. It's the people she has surrounded herself with as well as a couple new ones, who help her to find her feet and what direction she wants to walk in. Speaking of which, I loved Josia! He was precisely who Fia needed in her life, even if she takes a little while to realize it. And he's just awesome!

This is more of a contemplative story. We spend a great deal of time in Fia's head and there isn't tons of action or romance. But somehow it worked for me. Fia's story is one that I won't forget and I enjoyed the journey to finding her miracles even in the midst of rain! :)

**I received a complimentary copy from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

"Just knock," he said. But I can't. I'm not sure he'd hear me anyway.Not even twenty-four hours and he's already living up to his word of making some improvements. I pictured him rolling on a coat of paint. Sure. But this is a tool thing, and tool things mean a lot of work, and we only do a lot of work on things that are important to us.Maybe this house is important to him.Or maybe making things beautiful is important to him, and where he is doesn't matter in the least. Or it all matters.The man is a mystery.

I saw this question over at The Broke and the Bookish and immediately two series came to mind. (Well. Actually that's not true. I had to go to Goodreads and research what I've read and then I picked two. If I have to get technical about it. So there you go.) But isn't that an intriguing question, first of all? To imagine picking up the first book and diving into this amazing story without any idea of what was going to happen? And then to get swallowed inside it and dive into the next books without hesitation? Without having to wait yearsbefore reading the next book?! (Yes, I'm looking at you, The Lunar Chronicles!)

So! The two series that I'd love to read for the first time (again) are:

I linked you back to an old post of mine where I gush about how much I love these books and how I got convinced to read them. You should go read that if you need some encouragement to start the series. Because it is EXCELLENTLY written! (The books, not my post, fyi.) Ms. Turner's skill never ceases to amaze me. Trust me, this series is Just. That. Good.

I remember when I first started seeing this series around the blogosphere and I read rave review after rave review. It got me intrigued to be sure! And quite happily, the books hold up to every awesome thing said about them. They're fabulous! Who would have guessed that I'd swoon over a couple of knights from the fourteenth century?! Not me, but oh my. You have got to meet Marcelo and Luca! But don't worry, Gabi and Lia hold their own against these handsome lads. Time travel never looked so awesome! (But I do admit that I'm not so sure I could withstand all the medieval living. I mean, no running water? No modern medicine? Although I do love how Ms. Bergren handles a certain mortal wound. :)

The feelings of delight and all the wow-factors that kept me reading these books would be so fun to experience all over again! I mean, I know I can reread them, but those first feelings of awe can never be felt again. Unless it's vicariously through a friend who hasn't read them yet and decides to try one or both series...hint hint. ;) Have you read them? What are some books/series that you'd love to read for the first time again?

To say that I've been anticipating this book would be putting it mildly. After loving the first two stories in the series, I just knew this final one would be delightful. And I was so right! This one is a keeper, my friends. From the first pages to the very last, Ms. Hauck kept me intrigued enough to be unable to put it down. With a swoonworthy romance that has fabulous chemistry, as well as so many laugh out loud and heart-tugging moments, it's a captivating look at how one woman manages to "catch her prince". And who doesn't dream of doing that?! ;)

The highlight of the story is, of course, Corina and Stephen. These two love each other so well! Especially Corina. While they were both in denial in the beginning, it doesn't take long for Corina to realize that her feelings won't be ignored. And so she proceeds to do all she can to convince Stephen of the same. With the help of a couple mysterious characters (who I loved!), she bombards his heart again and again. I loved how she was so determined to love him regardless of anything! But Stephen has a few secrets he doesn't want to share and it requires Corina to decide what she's willing to sacrifice for the sake of love. As they stumble and make mistakes, yet pick themselves back up and try again, these two characters slowly find their way through all the circumstances thrown their way and come out victorious. Because we know the end result in these types of stories, but it's the journey to the happy ever after that makes for so much fun!

The story feels like a fairytale in all the best ways. As I mentioned above, there's a couple characters who inexplicably show up at all the right moments and inspire Corina every time she gets discouraged. Of course, there's the castle and the handsome prince. And the sweet romantic moments. Yet at the same time, it feels like something that could happen in real life. (Because as we all know, commoners can marry princes these days! :) Being able to combine both elements in one story is pretty clever actually. It's a skill that Ms. Hauck definitely uses wonderfully.

This is a lovely story well worth your time! I highly recommend that you add this one to your library. Because I know you're just dying to be swept away into a swoony romance with a lot of heart and sweetness! :D

*I received this book for free from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Between helping Mark step into his director role, and preparing for the premier and the interview with Clive, Corina had not organized the personal side of her trip very well. What friends did she want to see? If any at all? What memory lanes to stroll down? More important, when and how did she contact Stephen? What would she say to him when she did?Hey dude, I came to love well. Whatever that means. You game?

February 20, 2015

Yes! It is frigid and frosty and FREEZING around these parts today! After almost an entire week of snow, more snow, ice, and oh look, the snow is still here, I am really quite tired of snow. For any northern people who get snow all winter long and love it to pieces, I'm sorry, but I'm a southern girl. We don't usually have this sort of weather stick around for so long. It's cold!

So! I'm going to stop complaining about the weather now and get to the point of this post. I figured if I had to endure winter weather outside, I should think about happy stuff while inside! And what's better than cute and fun movies? Here's my list of a few movies I enjoy that feature snow in them. (If I can't beat the weather, I might as well figure out a way to tolerate it, right? ;)

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Having been a big fan of the book series by C.S. Lewis for several years now, I was thrilled to hear they were going to put them on the big screen! And this one is still my favorite of the three they've adapted. I thought the screenwriter(s?) did a fantastic job of staying true to the original story. And I absolutely loved seeing Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy come to life on the screen. And Mr. Tumnus! And of course, Aslan!!! I'd never thought about how comforting and awesome Liam Neeson's voice is, but hearing him speak for Aslan was brilliant. And to see Narnia and all the characters was simply lovely! I've watched this one several times and it never gets old. Now I'm thinking I need to do a reread of the series again soon.

New In Town

This one just never fails to make me laugh! Renee Zellweger is just so good at playing Lucy. And Harry Connick, Jr.? Pardon me while I swoon. I admit I quite like him with a little scruff! ;) Plus I'm thinking that if I watch this one again, it'll remind me that the snow I'm currently digging my way out of is nowhere near the same level as those in Minnesota have to deal with! Nothing like a little comparison to make you feel better about yourself, right?

While You Were Sleeping

I love this movie!!! Sandra and Bill are simply too cute together. And there's this scene where they're trying to help each other across the slippery ice on the sidewalk and they keep falling and laughing and yeah. It's adorable! Watching these two fall in love is seriously sweet and all kinds of awesome. Did I mention how much I love this movie? ;)

The Holiday

Both couples are very sweet, but Iris and Miles? They're my favorite! Well, except for Arthur, the legendary screenwriter living right next door. I love how he and Iris take each other under their wings. Both are so lost and trying to find themselves again and how much their friendship changes them and helps them to open up and take chances is just so very lovely. Plus I would love to visit Iris' little English cottage! It's delightful.

Last Holiday

Queen Latifah is fabulous! Watching Georgia burst out of her shell and start taking charge of her life is wonderful. And to do it at an awesome resort in Czechoslovakia? That place looks amazing! This movie just makes me grin. Filled with laughter of course, but there are so many sweet and touching moments. It really is a "feel good movie". I just have a soft spot for this story.

And there you have it! I realize there are many others I probably could have listed, but I figured five was a good number. Are there any you'd like to add to this list? :)

First, it's appropriate for today, of course. But Miss Dashwood lists all the hilarious ways that period drama couples got their happy ever afters! I'll give you one example: "Insult his business and the way he treats his workers. Then shake his hand. Don't forget to look beautiful. He won't know what hit him." Three guesses which period drama that's from, and the first two don't count! ;)

I haven't made much of a secret of my love of Jane Austen's Persuasion, so when I see proof that a blogging friend loves it too, it just makes me happy! Plus the fan art that Kami found is seriously awesome. Especially the last one. It's my favorite! Anything that refers to that amazing letter from Captain Wentworth is worth a looksee, right? Go check it out!

When does Rissi ever write a post that isn't awesome? I don't think it's possible! If you're not a regular reader of her blog, what on earth are you waiting for?! Get thee over there and connect with her immediately! :D Anyway, her post today lists several of her favorite romantic comedies, plus a few other things. And it's loads of fun as usual.

I hope your Valentine's Day is full of yummy chocolate, sweet and adorable movies, time with those you love, and just all around splendiferously wonderfulness! Meanwhile, I'm off to eat a few more Lindor Truffles. It's Valentines' Day! It's totally okay if I eat a whole bunch on Valentine's Day, right?! ;)

February 11, 2015

I am SO behind on my book reviews! I read Searching for Captain Wentworth clear back in November and here it is February already. That's craziness. It's past time I got caught up, so I decided I'd do another bite-sized review post for a couple of them. Enjoy! :)

Searching For Captain Wentworth ~ Jane Odiwe
I admit that the title is what first caught my eye. Anything to do with Persuasion is bound to! :) But the story within was delightful enough to capture my interest and keep me "turning" the pages on my kindle. It's not a rewriting of, but more based on, Ms. Austen's original. How exciting would it be to time travel back and actually speak with Ms. Austen herself? That's precisely what the heroine of this story gets to do! And how the time travel works doesn't fully make sense, but who cares? With simultaneous romances going on, one in real life and one in Austen's time period, the cute and fun is enough to make me happy to suspend my disbelief. With our heroine doing a balancing act between two worlds and two handsome, but confusing gentlemen, as well as getting to converse with Jane and her family, and trying to figure out what's real and what's not, life's a little busy. Ms. Odiwe's characters are so much fun! If you enjoy Austen sequels, then I would certainly recommend this one. Time travel and Jane Austen make a fabulous combo! :)

Old Fashioned ~ Rene Gutteridge
This one surprised me with how very sweet it was! I was slightly apprehensive that it would get into too much detail on Clay's theory and all the why's and wherefore's, and the actual romance part would end up more of an afterthought or something. But no! Watching these two people stumble around and make mistake after mistake, yet be unable to deny the chemistry and attraction going on between them was cute! Just when I'd be sure that Amber would finally give up on this seemingly crazy guy, she'd bounce back all the more determined to figure him out. Let me just say that Clay and Amber are charming. Watching them fall in love despite themselves is quite entertaining. And all the side characters with their quirks and loud opinions on the relationship they're watching take place just added to the fun. I'm so glad I picked this one up!

February 10, 2015

As I've been bombarding all of you with my North and South posts for the last month, I figured I really ought to actually review the book. But where do I begin?! (Beware, because here there be spoilers.) First of all, I should say that by watching the miniseries first (a few hundred times or so ;), it really colored my opinion of the story. I doubt that I would ever have been tempted to pick the book up otherwise. I am glad I did, however! Although I should also note that as much as I enjoyed the book, the miniseries still has first place in my heart.

That being said, this story is so full of....stuff! From the tensions between the masters and the millworkers, to Margaret, who's southern England upbringing did not prepare her AT ALL for life in a northern industrial town, to the tensions in the Hale family because of so many secrets they all carry, as well as tension in Mr. Thornton's life as a master and as a son to a formidable but loving mother, and of course the swoonworthy romance. Ms. Gaskell certainly knows how to write compelling characters! Because it's the characters that we fall in love with and who cause us to care about what happens to them. Although there were a few that I liked less than others.

My favorites are Margaret Hale, John Thornton, and Nicholas Higgins. They all start off rather off-putting, but through time and experience, slowly their individual struggles cause them to change into more understanding and caring people by the end. Oh, they never truly lose their innate personalities though. Margaret will always be forthright and outspoken in her ideas, Mr. Thornton will always be impulsive and emotionally driven, and Higgins will always be a little rough around the edges. But they learn to respect one another for their opinions and understand that there is much to be gained from each other, even when they disagree. If the three of them ever got together to discuss some subject or other, I can only imagine the debates that would happen! ;)

My least favorites were Mr. and Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Thornton, and Frederick Hale. I never could warm up to Mrs. Hale and how she woefully neglected her daughter and her marriage. And Mr. Hale wasn't much better at the beginning, but he does open up to Margaret a little more later on, which helped how I felt about him. As for Frederick, he just seemed underdeveloped and I never really liked or disliked him. He felt more like a plot device that was there to move things in certain directions and once his use was over, he went back to Spain and I didn't mind at all. Mrs. Thornton lives up to the nickname of "battle-ax Thornton" indeed! She could be very insulting, but her one redeeming quality for me was the love she had for her son. She and John had a great relationship and I was glad for Mr. Thornton's sake.

I would say my absolute favorite part of the story was how much time we spend in Mr. Thornton's head! I loved reading all his emotional turmoil. Watching him love Margaret regardless of anything or anyone was lovely. Then to see he and Higgins begin to respect one another and learn from each other was delightful. I'd like to think that they became good friends by the end of the story. And of course, the romance is enchanting! Quiet and subtle, as befitting the time period this was written in, nonetheless it's full of tension and chemistry. Mr. Thornton certainly knows how to make a girl swoon! ;)

There were bits that felt a bit slow or draggy to me, I confess to skimming quickly through some of the union stuff. My interest was much more the characters and their developing relationships with each other. But mostly, I just really enjoyed all the extra detail that the miniseries can't give us. Definitely a keeper! :)

It seemed as though he gave way all at once; he was so languid that he could not control his thoughts; they would wander to her; they would bring back the scene,- not of his repulse and rejection the day before but the looks, the actions of the day before that. He went along the crowded streets mechanically, winding in and out among the people, but never seeing them, -almost sick with longing for that one half-hour-that one brief space of time when she clung to him, and her heart beat against his-to come once again.

February 8, 2015

I am so, so pleased to be able to share this wonderful cover from my dear friend Amber's upcoming novella. Amber is a fabulous writer and I always get so excited when she tells me she's got something new coming up. And this next book sounds perfectly delightful! But first, the cover...

Isn't it adorable?! I am always a fan of cute couple covers (is that a great alliteration or what? ;) and this one is too cute! But all the little details just make it more fun as well. The train tracks, the bouquet of leaves, the colors in the sky, it's all so pretty! Wouldn't you agree? And as I have always had a little bit of a fascination with trains, that aspect of the book most certainly intrigues me. There's just something about getting onboard and traveling surrounded by so many other people going to any number of destinations. (Kind of like air travel that way!) I love that the tracks on the cover just seemingly go on forever. This one sounds like a keeper for sure and I, for one, cannot wait to read it!

About the Book

Two hearts racing in different directions will meet where trains collide.

Burned out and disillusioned with her chosen career path, Trisha Knolane gives in to impulse and hops on a train bound for Oregon, eager to escape the stress of college for a few days. But what begins as a fun little adventure suddenly collapses into a nightmare when she discovers that her ex-boyfriend is also on board.

All her hopes and dreams had once centered on Paul Benson. Now, when Trisha doesn't know where her current track will lead, Paul’s questions only complicate matters and spark a few of her own.

Questions that could change the course of her life.

A heartfelt and thought-provoking contemporary romance novella, Where Trains Collide faces the uncertain season of new adulthood head-on and shows that sometimes a path of broken dreams can lead to life's best destination.

Amber Stokes works in marketing for a Christian publisher. On the side, she writes inspirational fiction depicting the seasons of life and love. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor's degree in English and to run her own freelance editing and publicity business for over a year. The next step in her career has her happily settled in the Pacific Northwest—a part of the world she's always considered home. Learn more about her indie-author adventure at Seasons of a Story.

Giveaway

Fall in love with gorgeous autumn earrings by Belle on a Budget (perfect to set aside as a gift for yourself or a friend later on!) and treat yourself now to a little something on Amazon.com with a $5 gift card. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only, and you can enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

February 5, 2015

So I found this post the other day. It's regarding the "infamous" train station scene at the end of the North and South miniseries. And since we're going to be watching it Friday night, I thought I'd share with my readers! The author has an interesting view on the scene. One I hadn't really ever thought about. Because while I love the scene (I rewind and watch at least three or four or ten times every time I watch the series, I confess! ;), I've always thought that it probably wasn't true to the time period. Which I am okay with, believe me! But still. What do you think?

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"But Hadley understood. It wasn't that she was meant to read them all. Maybe someday she would, but for now, it was more the gesture itself. He was giving her the most important thing he could, the only way he knew how. He was a professor, a lover of stories, and he was building her a library in the same way other men might build their daughters houses."— Jennifer E. Smith